Willis HOMEBUILT GYROCOPTER UNREG

Summary

On 25 May 1992 at about 02:00 local time, a Willis HOMEBUILT GYROCOPTER registered UNREG, operated by Willis, William E., was involved in an accident near Adelanto, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 May 1992 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Adelanto, California, United States

Coordinates

34.6602, -117.5095

Aircraft

Willis HOMEBUILT GYROCOPTER

Registration

UNREG

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Willis, William E.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92LA218

1 person died.

A LOSS OF CONTROL FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HOMEBUILT GYROCOPTER WAS OBSERVED BY TO ENTER A STEEP LOW LEVEL TURN OVER THE EL MIRAGE DRY LAKE AFTER MEETING AN APPROACHING MOTOR VEHICLE. THE WITNESS STATED THAT THE GYROCOPTER NOSED INTO THE DRY LAKE BED WHILE IN THE TURN. THE PILOT HAD BUILT THE GYROCOPTER FROM SALVAGE PARTS. HE HAD BEEN FLYING GYROCOPTERS SINCE HE WAS 15 YEARS OLD. HE HAD NOT RECEIVED FORMAL FLIGHT TRAINING IN THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT'S TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATION SHOWED 5.12 MG/L METHAMPHETAMINE AND 0.47 MG/L AMPHETAMINE IN THE HEART BLOOD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.